“I have walked that long walk to freedom… I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities.” – Nelson Mandela.
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| Nelson Mandela |
I remember reading Mandela’s autobiography ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ back in 2018 after my high school. At the same period, I had the chance of watch its dramatization casted in the same name and having actor Idris Elba as the staring. The experience to me was magical. I found myself transported to the heart of South Africa and sharing the nation’s struggle for freedom and equality. Reading through the pages, turning chapter to chapter, I could feel myself walking alongside Mandela, sharing his pain, his courage, and his dream for a new South Africa. You can say that I could hear the echoes of his footsteps while he was on Robben Island. His sacrifices were immense. It left me thinking what kind of man would choose 27 years in jail instead of spending cold nights under a duvet with his wife, a selfless sacrifice. Amazingly, this question did not just lead me to answers, it became a personal call. I made a promise to follow in Mandel’s footsteps. To become a leader like him, defend Africa, and dedicate myself to fighting for social justice.
The mighty power that rests in letting go
A review of Mandela’s legacy comes in handy at a time that Africa faces challenges of bad governance, corruption, and crisis in leadership. The greatest lesson that comes in play here is the act of Mandela only serving one term as South Africa’s president. The act not only shows the significance of relinquishing power at the right time but also overcoming authoritarianism. In the mwanzo 2025 issue of The Afrikan Shujaa Magazine, I published an essay titled ‘Youths should be the leaders of today not tomorrow!’ In that essay, I called out African leaders such as Yoweri Museveni who has ruled Uganda for 39 years now. On the other had been Paul Biya who has ruled Cameroon for 43 years and reports indicate that he may be seeking another term in office in the country’s upcoming elections. In this kind of political longevity setting, the citizens result to resistance. Greedy leaders in such a state only solidify their authority, supress opposition, and rule with an iron fist leaving the masses of the people to suffer from both political, economic, and social rights violations.
Mandela’s decision to rule South Africa for a single term remains a significant lesson today on selfless leadership that prioritizes the needs of the people and the future of the nation. This is a good example worth emulating today. Mandela represented a hybrid leadership of his time when many founding fathers resulted to clinging on to power. Such a case was seen in Zimbabwe with Robert Mugabe who only left power through a coup. It is a behaviour that has been passed town to present African leadership. We have seen today leaders amend the constitution just to extend their terms in office. Mandela chose a unique path despite his global popularity and the unwavering support he got from his people. Being the founding father, people expected him to serve for 2 terms, at least, but he did the unexpected. He voluntarily relinquished power in 1999, after serving from 1994 when South Africa gained its independence from the apartheid regime. From that act, we learn of Mandela as a leader who valued democracy over self-satisfaction. Him stepping down from power allowed fresh ideas into the governance of the country, thus the progress of the nation.
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| Mandla back in Robben Island |
We learn from him that leadership is a form of a relay race and never a lifetime appointment. While other African leaders think that staying long in power will help them complete their manifesto projects or create a lasting legacy, Mandela understood that true leadership is not determined by years in power but the impact of that leadership. Most importantly by empowering others to lead. A lesson to African leaders today is that they should know that leadership is determined by the satisfaction of the subjects. We have seen many times in developed democracy where any government official who is surrounded by scandals will voluntarily choose to resign. In October 2022, the world saw UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, resigning after a brief tenure that had been faced by economic challenges and political instability. The next year in 2023, Kevin McCarthy who was the speaker of the House of Representatives in United States resigned after being ousted from his position as the Speaker. We cannot also forget Tanzania’s founding father, Julius Nyerere who resigned from power. Often politicians resign due to policy disagreement, criminal investigations, and other political dynamics. These leaderships today challenge African leaders to uphold democracy and respect the set constitutional limits.
Mandela’s teachings on compassionate leadership
Probably the theme of compassionate leadership is what put Nelson Mandela on the global map. The events leading to it too. We all know that Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years in Roben Island in the quest for a South Africa where equality prevails. Looking at the harsh conditions that he was locked in, and the strength and productive years robbed from him by the apartheid regime, Mandela had every reason to seek vengeance but he did not do that. Mandela recognized that the country needed peace and reconciliation upon independence instead of revenge. The most outstanding moment of his compassionate leadership was when he was released in 1990 and decided to collaborate with the government that once oppressed him. He worked closely with former apartheid leader F.W. de Klerk as they prepared for a smooth transition into majority and democratic rule. This system worked very well. It spared South Africa from plunging into violence and retribution that had been seen in some other African countries in their struggle for independence.
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| Mandela's peace accord with F.W. de Klarke |
Mandela’s leadership is accredited with laying the foundation for economic progress and promotion of social justice. Once again, from his leadership we learn that power does not just mean ruling over people but in serving them with compassion, not forgetting humility. While some people blame Mandela for being too accommodative of the oppressor, we must all agree that he made a significant contribution to not only South African political landscape but also Africa and the globe. Some thinkers would like to compare Mandela with Robert Mugabe and laugh Mandela off saying that he failed to give his people land, unlike Mugabe. A response that I always like to give to such a pundit is that Mandela did what he could. As discussed earlier, leadership is a relay race. Mandela earned South Africa its independence. He spearheaded for democracy and equal rights. Black South Africans could now vote and stand to be voted in various positions. That was enough for old Mandela’s achievement. Getting back South African land to its owners was to be the task of future leadership.
The leadership of Mandela is not just worthy of praise, it is a powerful reminder of what African leadership should embody. The compassion, humility, and respect for democratic processes are key ingredient that should be made a normalcy in African political landscape. When that is upheld, Africa will bury the vices of bad governance, corruption, and authoritarianism, just like it was done with colonialism. From the example of nelson Mandela, today’s African politicians should understand that the path to an honourable legacy is ruling with kindness. Also, old leadership stepping aside from power so that the next generation can step in. As we strive to achieve Agenda 2063 which envisions a renewed Africa, lessons from Mandela’s leadership are more important here. Contemporary politicians must realize that prioritizing people over power is not a weakness but a mighty strength in leadership, a challenge that lets me sign off with a question. Will the leaders of today rise to Mandela’s hybrid leadership example?
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